(57) A light and charged particle image intensifier (10) receives incident image conveying
light or charged particles {«incident beam») (12) and provides to data processing
and video equipment signals from which the image conveyed by the incident beam (12)
can be constructed and displayed. The beam (12) that is being processed includes visible
light reflected from objects and X-ray radiation that has been passed through an object
such as a human body. The image intensifier includes a scintillator (14) and photocathode
unit (16) for converting the incident beam (12) to photoelectrons (18) and a charge-coupled
device («CCD») (52) for detecting the photoelectrons (18) and transmitting to the
data processing and video equipment information relating to the quantity or energy
level as well as the location of the electrons (18) impinging on the sensing areas
(54 or Sl to SN) of the CCD (52). From this information, the data processing and video
equipment can reconstruct the image conveyed by the incident beam (12). The sensitivity
of the device is increased either by imposing an electric field across the photocathode
(16) and the CCD (52) to accelerate the photoelectrons or by placing a micro channel
processor («MCP») (20) between the photocathode (16) and the CCD (52) to increase
the number of electrons that impinge on the CCD (52). Alternately, a silicon diode
target (42) can be used instead of a CCD (52) to intercept the electrons and an electron
beam gun (44) can be used to detect the location and intensity of the charges created
on the target (42) by the impinging electrons. Finally, a grid (24) having a number
of windows can be used instead of a CCD (52) or a silicon target (42) to detect the
location of the electron streams and a photoanode (25) can detect their intensity.
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